Feeling Blue?

It is quite normal to feel down from time to time. Life not going according to plan, money worries and bereavement are all common causes. Usually these feelings pass, but if they start to interfere with day-to-day life, persist for longer than a couple of weeks or keep on coming back for several days at a time, you or someone close to you could be suffering from depression.

True depression is much more than a passing bout of the blues. It is with you 24/7 and can be seriously debilitating. As well as having deep emotional symptoms, depression can also affect you physically. You may find that you can’t sleep or eat, don’t want to see anyone, are tired and lethargic most of the time or even start to experience physical aches and pains that seem to come from nowhere.

The good news is you don’t have to suffer in silence. There is plenty of help out there and people can and do make a full recovery.

People don’t necessarily realise they are depressed and it is often picked up by friends and family.